A-coil with improved air deflector

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an air guide mounted in the apex area of an &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;A&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;-coil evaporator. The air guide is effective in allowing the air to pass smoothly through the evaporator coils. The air coil guide is arranged to allow an unrestricted air flow through the evaporator plates thereby eliminating eddying of the air in the downstream side of the air guide.

Unite States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,831,670 Mailings Aug. 27, 1974 [5 1A-COIIL WITH IMPROVED AIR 3,074,478 1/1963 Em 165/101 DEFLECTOR3,305,006 2/1967 Daltry 165/124 [75] Inventor: Donald M. Mullings,Yardley, Pa.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company,

Louisville, Ky.

[22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 406,646

[52] ILLS. Cl. 165/124, 62/515 [51] int. Cl F28l 7/00 {58] Field ofSearch 62/286-290;

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,780,445 2/1957 Rimbach165/124 Primary Examiner-Manuel A. Antonakas Assistant Examiner-TheophilW. Streule, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmFrancis H. Boos [57] ABSTRACTThe present invention provides an air guide mounted in the apex area ofan A"-coil evaporator. The air guide is effective in allowing the air topass smoothly through the evaporator coils. The air coil guide isarrangedto allow an unrestricted air flow through the evaporator platesthereby eliminating eddying of the air in the downstream side of the airguide.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures I A-COIL WITH IMPROVED AIR DEFLECTORBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to an ashaped evaporator and more particularly to anevaporator A-coil as applied to central air conditioning systems as theindoor half of the split system with the coil being in series with theheating furnace blower. The A-coil evaporator which in common practiceis two evaporator slabs or plates, is connected at its apex by an airguide memher that allows a smooth unrestricted flow of air'to travelthrough the coils by allowing the air to remain closer to the center ofthe coil by pulling the air streams toward a parallel flow therebypreventing displacement of the air stream.

2. Descriptionof the Prior Art Traditionally, A-coils as shown in US.Pat. No. 3,097,507 to T. H. Makuh and US. Pat. No. 3,000,193 to T. G.Crider are secured to their upper ends or apex by solid plate membersthat bridge both evaporator plates to cover substantially all the upperends of the evaporators. This presently used arrangement causes the airto turn sharply from its original direction to get through theevaporator plates. This severe directional change of the air flow causeseddy currents to form on the downstream side of the connector plates.This drastic change in air flow direction tends to whip or free thecondensate water from the evaporator coils and cause it to be carriedinto the air stream. This action can be especially damaging in that 'thecondensate water brought from the evaporator may lodge on the internalsurfaces of the duct work, or cause leakage into the system, or may bemaintained in the air flow which causes a cold clammy air to becirculated. Other prior art devices such as disclosed in US. Pat. No.3,2l2,288 to R. M. Herbert discloses an A-coil wherein the connectingplates or upper support members have been eliminated. This type ofconstruction is expensive in that it does not lenditself to massproduction methods and techniques in that it relates to a design that islimited in application. The slope angle of the coils, because of theangled tops is fixed and as such it is not suitable for all sizes ofcooling coils because the width at the bottom of the A-coil is limitedby the mitered top and would therefore not be adaptable to various widthfurnaces. Further, the plates are interconnected by the refrigerantsystem so that the entire assembly provides a unitary evaporator. and assuch the A"-coil must be fabricated as a unit before it is tested forleakage, this presents further problems, such as storage prior toshipment. For example, the traditional rectangularly shaped plates areassembled separately and stored or stacked prior to their assembly intoan A-coil. Thus, less storage area is needed and handling is greatersimplified resulting in less damage to the coils in their preassembledstate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By this invention. there is provided aninverted vshaped or A"-coil heat exchanger that is arranged in the pathof a flow of air. The heat exchanger includes a pair of generallyvertically extending plates. The lower ends of the plates aresubstantially parallel and spaced from each other to define an openingtherebetween to allow movement of air therethrough. The plates convergeupwardly so that substantially all of the air moving through the openingmust pass through the plates. Provided at the apex of the plates is anair deflecting or guide means that extend longitudinally substantiallythe full length of the plates and is located between the upperlongitudinally extending edges of the plate so as to be out of the pathof air moving through the plates. The air deflecting means issubstantially diamond shaped and provides air foil surfaces that cause asmooth flow of air at its upstream side while at the same time preventseddying of said air flow at its downstream side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of aconventional hot air furnace including a heat exchanger embodying theair deflector of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air deflector forming the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of an Acoil embodying the present inventionin an upflow installation; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a downflow arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, there isshown a hot air furnace 10, which includes a blower of air handlingmeans (not shown) for moving air from an air inlet 12 through thefurnace and for delivering air to an outlet 14 and into a distributionplenum 16. Located in the plenum l6 and positioned over the outlet 14 isan A-coil or inverted v-shaped evaporator assembly or heat exchangerindicated generally at 18. The evaporator assembly 18 comprises a pairof conventional air conditioning coil heat exchanger assemblies orplates 20 and 22. The plates or heat exchangers are conventional indesign and are fabricated from a series of flat, thin substantiallyrectangular plates or fins designated generally at 23, and have theusual refrigerant tubing 24 passing therethrough as part of therefrigerant system. Other conventional components such as a base pan 26is provided wherein the lower edges of the plates 20 and 22 are locatedin drip pans that are disposed in a parallel and space relationship toeach other to define an opening 15 which communicates with the outletopening 14. At their upper ends the plates converge to form the invertedv or A-shaped evaporator assembly 18 which, in effect, locates theplates in the path of air moving through opening 14.

In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown, an airguide or deflector means 28 is provided that is substantially diamond orlozenge shaped in cross section and is arranged with the acute anglesvertically disposed. However, it should be clearly understood, and willbe explained further hereinafter, that other configurations may beincorporated that would provide the desired results in carrying out theobjects of the present invention.

formed on the upper edge portions of the end or outer fin 23 of each ofthe heat exchanger assemblies and 22.

In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the deflector 28 isfabricated from a single piece of sheet material which is bent centrallyto provide a longitudinally extending ridge 34 forming the upper acuteangle and terminating with its free ends adjacent each other at thelower end of the diamond. Completing the deflector 28 are upper walls 36generating from the ridge 34 and lower walls 38 extending to the freeends. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the upper inneredge portions of the plates 20, 22 rest on or are held against the upperwalls 36 so as to be supported by the deflector 28.

The above described configuration of the deflector 28 permits a greatdeal of flexibility of application by providing a design that lendsitself to use on heat exchangers 18 of various capacities and sizes.Generally,

the height of theassembly 18 is variable depending on 20 the desiredcooling capacity-of the unit. The width and height of the A-coils arenot proportional for the various sizes of heat exchange assemblies. Withthe deflector 28 of the present invention as applied, the upper acuteangle as defined by ridge 34'may be altered to permit different coilslopes. For example, a heat exchanger of higher capacity might require awider base thereby changing the apex angle of the A-coil, in that event,it would be the simple matter during fabrication of the unit to adjustthe air deflector to accommodate the different angles so that the upperinner edges of the plates would still rest on and be supported by thewalls 36. The bottom edges of the deflector 28 may then be broughttogetheragain or in close proximity to each other to provide minimumresistance to air flow in the upward direction as viewed in FIG. 3.Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an illustration of an upflowinstallation wherein the blower forces the air through opening 14towards the converging plates 20, 22 of the heat exchanger 18 anddeflector 28. As indicated by the arrows, the air flow with the presentair foil or deflector 28 located at the apex of the converging plates20, 22 is allowed to pass through the plates in all areas including theportions immediately adjacent to air deflector. This uninterrupted flowof air through the evaporators plates allows the air to remainsubstantially parallel as it passes through the plates so that eddyingon the downstream side of the heat exchanger is eliminated. FIG. 4illustrates a downflow installation whereby the air is directed past theridge portion 34 through the plates 20, 22 and into opening 14. The airflowing past the deflector in each application is in effect the same inthat the downstream portion of the baffle maintains the air streamsubstantially close to the center of the heat exchanger 18 by pullingthe air stream toward a parallel flow pattern as indicated by arrows inFIGS. 3 and 4. The air stream as permitted with the use of the airdeflector of the present invention provides an air flow of substantiallyuniform velocities and prevents air velocities in critical areas thatare capable of blowing condensate water off the heat exchange surfaces.Water blown into the air stream may lodge on internal air'conditioningparts, or may defeat the dehumidifying benefit of air conditioning bycausing cold clammy air to be distributed.

While in accordance with the Patent Statutes, there has been describedwhat, at present, is considered to be the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made thereto without departing from theinvention, and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to coverall such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit andscope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured to Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. An air handling structure having a heat exchanger arranged in thepath of a flow of air, including a pair of generally verticallyextending heat exchangers having upper and lower ends, the lower endsbeing substantially parallel and spaced from each other to define anopening therebetween to allow movement of air therethrough, andconverging upwardly so that substantially all of the air moving throughthe openings contacts the heat exchangers, wherein the improvementcomprises:

air deflector means located between the upper ends of said heatexchanger and extending longitudinally substantially the full length ofsaid heat exchangers; and

said air deflecting means being substantially diamond shaped to providea smooth flow of air at its upstream side to maintain a parallel airflow through all of said heat exchangers and thereby preventing eddyingof said air flow at the downstream side of said air deflector.

2. A heat exchanger arranged in the path of a flow of air comprising:

a pair of generally vertically extending heat exchanger plates eachhaving upper and lower ends;

said lower ends being substantially parallel and spaced from each otherto define an'opening therebetween to allow movement of air therethrough;

said plates converging upwardly so that substantially all of the airmoving through said openings contacts and flows through said heatexchangers;

air deflecting means located between the upper ends of the heatexchangers so as to be out of the path of air passing through said heatexchangers and extending longitudinally substantially the full length ofsaid heat exchangers; and

said air deflecting means having a central ridged portion and side wallsextending downwardly and outwardly from said ridge to provide airdeflecting surfaces for deflecting air moving toward said ridge portionthrough said plates and into said opening.

changers.

1. An air handling structure having a heat exchanger arranged in thepath of a flow of air, including a pair of generally verticallyextending heat exchangers having upper and lower ends, the lower endsbeing substantially parallel and spaced from each other to define anopening therebetween to allow movement of air therethrough, andconverging upwardly so that substantially all of the air moving throughthe openings contacts the heat exchangers, wherein the improvementcomprises: air deflector means located between the upper ends of saidheat exchanger and extending longitudinally substantially the fulllength of said heat exchangers; and said air deflecting means beingsubstantially diamond shaped to provide a smooth flow of air at itsupstream side to maintain a parallel air flow through all of said heatexchangers and thereby preventing eddying of said air flow at thedownstream side of said air deflector.
 2. A heat exchanger arranged inthe path of a flow of air comprising: a pair of generally verticallyextending heat exchanger plates each having upper and lower ends; saidlower ends being substantially parallel and spaced from each other todefine an opening therebetween to allow movement of air therethrough;said plates converging upwardly so that substantially all of the airmoving through said openings contacts and flows through said heatexchangers; air deflecting means located between the upper ends of theheat exchangers so as to be out of the path of air passing through saidheat exchangers and extending longitudinally substantially the fulllength of said heat exchangers; and said air deflecting means having acentral ridged portion and side walls extending downwardly and outwardlyfrom said ridge to provide air deflecting surfaces for deflecting airmoving toward said ridge portion through said plates and into saidopening.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein the downwardlyand outwardly extending side walls of said air deflector means provide asupport surface for the upper edges of said heat exchangers.
 4. Theinvention as set forth in claim 3 wherein the air deflecting means issubstantially diamond shaped to provide an effective air deflectingsurface for air flow in either direction.
 5. The invention as set forthin claim 4 wherein the air deflector is provided with outwardlyprojecting tabs at its longitudinal ends that are secured to said heatexchangers.